Pretty, sleek, and soft that’s the under lying story of Doeskin by Snow Angel. This cashmere-soft base layer maximizes warmth while minimizing bulk. Doeskin’s four-way stretch ensures a slim fit and freedom of movement making this feminine base layer as technical as anything out there. You’ll be toasty on those frosty ski days or you can wear it during your yoga workouts.

Granite Chief carries two collections from Snow Angel; Doeskin for warmth without the bulk and Angel Cashmere a little lighter and perfect for our warm sunny California ski days. Both collections are perfect holiday gift items, you won’t go wrong with Snow Angel. She’ll love it, that’s a guarantee.

by Treas Manning

Power Stretch by Polartec isn’t new, it’s a time tested fabric and Marmot’s stylish Half Zip Power Stretch top is the number one choice when it comes to layering pieces. Though Marmot Power Stretch is not officially considered a baselayer many of our staff and customers wear it next to skin, especially in our climate. In colder conditions many wear it as a second layer.

A couple of years ago Marmot updated the design of the Power Stretch Half Zip, adding detail stitching and a zipper chest pocket. As a buyer, at first I was concerned because the new features increased the cost of the garment, but I found that the old favorite only gained in popularity. Marmot’s Power Stretch Half Zip has such a strong classic look that many are starting to wear it as a street piece with jeans and not solely as a technical baselayer or second layer. But technical it is; with a moisture wicking fleece on the inside and a smooth finish exterior that spreads the moister across the surface for quick drying. The smooth outer finish of Power Stretch eliminates binding when worn under a ski jacket, giving the skier freedom of movement.

Watching buying trends I’ve learned that skiers and those that live in the mountains tend to buy multiple pieces in a variety of colors. So that’s the way I stock them and continue to reorder on a weekly basis. Marmot’s great styling and Polartec’s soft, comfortable, highly technical Power Stretch has become the standard of those that work, play and live in the mountains.

Remember when The Big R was on the top of the world with the 4S? In my opinion the Phantom 87 is going to put Rossignol back on top. When I first jumped on this ski last spring I knew this was the all mountain ski for me. Coming from a hard snow race background, I naturally responded to the quickness of its round even turning radius. The 87mm waist brings versatility to this all mountain ski, a ripper on groomers and hard snow with good float when skiing powder and the power to push through crud.

Don’t get me wrong I still have my full fat powder skis, but Rossignol’s Phantom 87 is the ski you’ll most likely see me skiing 90% of the time. I’ve always liked a wood core ski but when you sandwich it between titanium you’ve got a ride with the smoothness of wood and the snap of a metal ski. This all mountain ski is a dream come true for those that want it all in one ski.

The weathermen are calling for El Nino this year so to heck with the park skis and midfats, my shop pick this year is a tubby one, the Volkl Gotama. Your’re probably thinking you’ve heard this one before, 105 mm at the waist, big deal right? Wrong, it is a big deal. Gotama lovers will scarcely recognize the newest incarnation of one of the most successful powder skis of all time as it was completely redesigned. The 2010 Gotama has early rise in both the tip and tail making it far better in powder than the previous two versions. For those of you who have been living under a rock the past few years early rise/reverse camber has spread through the ski industry like a stomach flu in a day care center. Much like a surf board, the tip and tail of the Gotama have been turned up much sooner than traditional ski designs dictated. Early rise eliminates the need to shift balance fore and aft to keep the tip afloat in powder, allowing the rider to plunder the powder like a thousand Spanish doubloons. Yaaaarrrr.

Now bare with me because this is the really crazy part, this thing skis groomed snow really well. Seriously, I’m not sure you’ll see a Gotama take the slalom World Cup podium but this is definately a power ski you will ski all day even after the mountain gets tracked. So when your friends are bogged down in a blizzard hop on a pair of Goats, turn up your iPod and rock out like a frat boy in greek week!